‘Truffle thief’ death farmer jailed

A farmer has been jailed for eight years for the shooting death of a suspected truffle thief.

Laurent Rambaud was convicted on Friday by the court in Valence, south-east France, for the killing on December 20 2010 of Ernest Pardo.

Rambaud, 37, insisted he didn’t mean to kill Pardo. He told police he was guarding a truffle patch on his land around nightfall when he was surprised by a man and a dog, and opened fire out of fear for his life.

Police say Pardo was known to sell the prized delicacy at local markets. He was holding a small pick.

The killing took place in Grignan, near one of France’s largest truffle markets. Truffles sell for up to £650 per kilogram (2.2lbs).